Today's Gospel

Life is Stormy

Do you ever feel like you're being called to something new, called to a new place, called to do something different, be someone different, be more yourself. We have these feelings, these senses, these epiphanies at different times in our lives, and sometimes we listen to them and sometimes we ignore them. One of the great themes that we read about throughout the Gospels is the theme of the storm. It's a great theme. Why? Because our lives are stormy. Our lives are stormy. There are a lot of storms in life. There are a lot of sunny days, but there are a lot of storms in life. And in this reading, we read about Jesus and the disciples going out on the lake. On that day, when evening had come, that's when we're weary, right? That's when we're weary. We don't wake up in the morning usually weary. We wake up in the morning, usually hopeful, excited for the day, ready to get at it. Not every day maybe. But by the time we come to the evening, as the days go on, things don't go as we expect them to. Things, life is unpredictable, and that can wear us down. And so by the evening, people are weary. And the disciples, they're weary. Jesus is weary.

Jesus says to them, "Let's go across to the other side. Let's go across to the other side." What's the other side in your life right now? If Jesus said to you today, "Let's go across the other side. Come with me and let's go across the other side." What does that mean to you? What would he be inviting you to? Because I think today he is inviting you and me to go with him to the other side. And maybe that's got something to do with your relationship. Maybe it's got something to do with your kids. Maybe it's got something to do with your money. Maybe it's got something to do with your job.

Maybe it's got something to do with your spirituality. Maybe it's got something to do with your health, your marriage, your children. You know what it is for you and I know what it is for me. When Jesus says to us today, "Come with me and let's go across to the other side." We don't want to, right? Sometimes we don't want to. Or perhaps more correctly, we want to be on the other side, but we don't want to go across the lake to the other side. We want Jesus to just sort of pick us up and drop us on the other side. We don't actually want to make the journey. We don't want to make the transition. And that's why we're resistant. Because we're mindful that out on the lake, hey, it's stormy out there. The lake's unpredictable. Life out on the water is unpredictable and can turn very, very quickly and can get scary very, very quickly, life out on the water. So when Jesus comes and says, "Hey, guys, let's go out on the lake and go across the other side," we are a little bit hesitant. Jesus and the disciples, they get in the boats, they go out there. A great storm of wind arose, and the waves began to beat the boat, and the boat began to fill with water. Where's Jesus? He's asleep. He's asleep. What does this tell us? It's so many things. Firstly, it tells us most of the things we worry about, Jesus would sleep through. Most of the things we worry about, Jesus Jesus would sleep through because He knows there's nothing to worry about. We know that most of the things we worry about never actually happen. Imagine how much more Jesus knows that. So all the disciples, they're freaking out. Jesus is asleep. And then finally, they wake him up, right? What do they say to him? "Teacher, do you not care? You don't care about us. We're perishing here and you're asleep taking a nap." Jesus calms the waves, says, "Peace, be still." Calms the waves and he says to them, "Why are you afraid? Why are you afraid?" What's he really saying? He's really saying, "Hey guys, I'm right here. I'm right here. I've been taking care of you for almost three years now. Why are you afraid? Haven't you learned yet? If you're with me, you're going to be okay. If you're with me, you're going to be okay. The problem is when you step away from me, that's when you should worry. You step away from me, that's a real storm. That's a storm to be worried about. But you're with me? Why? Why are you afraid?" Incredibly powerful. And so two questions I want you to think about today. The other side, what is the other side that Jesus is inviting you to journey with Him to? And the second question is, what is the storm in your life at this time? We've all got a storm in our lives. Sometimes it's an afternoon shower and sometimes it's a hurricane. We've all got storms in our lives. We've all got storms in our lives all the time. There's always something happening. What is the storm in your life right now? And where is Jesus in the storm? Are you with Jesus in the storm? Is Jesus asleep? Because if he's asleep, he's telling you, "It's okay. We're going to get through this. This will pass. Stay with me. You'll be all right. I'll make sure you're all right." That's what he's saying to us. What's the storm in your life and what journey is God inviting you to? Come to the other side. Come to the other side.